“Yes, dear. I know. Now come help an old woman.” She moved the final steps and crossed the inner ward.
Sawyer hesitated, but Pearl ran forward and sat quickly by the woman’s feet. She received a nice pat on the head and ear scratch for her trouble.
“Your baby girl is delightful. Such a wonderful friend, Sawyer.”
“She is.” Anyone who thought Pearl was great couldn’t be all bad. Could she?
“Come along, Sawyer. You’re dawdling. I can’t abide dawdling.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sawyer walked slowly forward until he reached her side. His heart was pounding in his chest and his palms were a bit sweaty. Was this it? Had he just walked to his doom?
“So dramatic,” she huffed before reaching out to hook her hand into the crook of his elbow. “Walk with me.”
They walked along the inner ward with Pearl racing ahead, sniffing the ground for any possible problems in their path. Of course, there weren’t any but she made an excellent scout.
“I’m pleased you figured out your truth so quickly, young Sawyer. I’d expected it to take longer. Then again, I hadn’t expected the dark ones to make a move on you directly, either. I don’t like it when the way is blurred.”
Sawyer nearly stumbled, but was able to retain his footing without tripping them both up. “So… it really is me.”
She grinned at him and gave his arm a squeeze. “Of course it is.”
“Oh, wow. Just… wow. Really?”
“Sweet boy, who else could it be?”
Sawyer could think of about a thousand guys more qualified, and he didn’t even know a thousand guys. Pretty much anyone would be more able than him, right? He didn’t even have super powers or lots of money or experience or… “Ow!”
She’d pinched the inside of his arm, right on the tender spot. “Stop that. You’re exactly what you need to be.”
“You’re sure?”
“I don’t make mistakes.” Her eyes twinkled and she grinned that crooked smile at him.
Sawyer sputtered. “You… wait… you? You? You!”
“And he’s got it. You’re a bit slow sometimes, aren’t you? Well, in your defense it is the middle of the night. I do love this time though, young Sawyer. It’s so peaceful when the world around me is taking its rest. Leaves me time to just listen and learn.”
Sawyer thought he might be hyperventilating. If she was… then that meant… “Goddess?”
“I told you I prefer Mother.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And you still don’t like that word.”
Sawyer laid his hand over hers where it rested on his arm. “No, I like that word a lot. It’s special. And… so are you.” He gulped. “Mother.”
“Oh, sweet boy. You are just the heart this world needs. So full of love. That’s the key. You’ll need that love to do what must be done. You’ll find your loves and it’ll make you so strong. Trust in it, Sawyer. Trust in them. With your whole heart.”
Sawyer glanced toward the house and the upstairs window where the men in his life were sleeping. “I do.”
She gave his hand a gentle pat. “It won’t be easy, what you must do. Nothing easy is every worthwhile. But you can fix the tears, Sawyer, mend the things that have gone unaided for too long.”
“How? I can’t work magic so how can I fix it? I don’t understand.”
She huffed and gave the ground a whack with her cane. “I’m not allowed to say more. Why do we impose these silly rules on ourselves? But all of the old ones agreed that free will was important. We can encourage and guide, but not direct. And this, this requires an even more delicate hand. I’ve moved the pieces around on the board for you, sent you the most powerful guardians. The rest are coming. Open your heart to them and you’ll find the way is easier.”
“I think the rules are silly, too. It’s so annoying when you can’t just say.”
